CALIFORNIA (May 14) – The No. 12 California University of Pennsylvania tennis team will compete in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament for the sixth-consecutive season on Thursday, May 15, at 9 a.m. The Vulcans will face Sunshine State Conference (SSC) runner-up and No. 6 Saint Leo (Fla.) at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Fla.
NCAA Playoffs: Cal U earned the top seed in the Atlantic Region and advanced to the quarterfinals with a 5-0 win over Northeastern State (Okla.) in the Round of 16. Regionally, the Vulcans received a first-round bye before claiming a 5-0 victory over Mercyhurst in the second round. Meanwhile, Saint Leo out-lasted national power BYU-Hawaii to record a 5-4 win while making its first appearance in the Round of 16. The Lions also earned a first-round bye as the second seed before posting a 5-3 win against Lynn.
National Rankings: Cal U and Saint Leo are each ranked in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings. The Vulcans have been ranked No. 12 in the country in each of the two previous polls, while the Lions moved up one spot to No. 6 in the latest poll.
A pair of Cal U standouts are listed in the singles rankings, including senior
Lucie Sipkova (Pardubice, Czech Republic/Gymnazium Pardubice Mozartova) who is ranked No. 20 and junior
Ramona Czakon who is slotted at No. 34. In addition, the doubles pairing of Sipkova and junior
Lucie Rey (Geneva, Switzerland/Colombieres) are ranked No. 12 in the latest doubles rankings.
Saint Leo features the No. 48 singles player in the nation with freshman Anastasia Wagner. The freshman tandem of Wagner and Paula Montoya are ranked No. 24 nationally despite playing only 10 matches – all at the first position – together.
Scouting the Vulcans: Cal U enters the quarterfinals on a 13-match winning streak with its only loss this spring coming at NCAA Division I West Virginia on Feb. 7. The 2013 PSAC West Athlete of the Year, Sipkova leads the team with 24 victories behind a 9-3 mark at the first position in dual play. Freshmen
Veronika Mikulis (Otterburn Park, Quebec/Heritage Regional) and
Kiefer Shaw (Westmount, Quebec/Centennial) are tied for second on the team with 19 wins in singles play with both posting an 11-match winning streak. Freshman
Mariela Sarinana (Mexico City, Mexico/Miraflores) is close behind with 18 victories and has won a team-best 13-straight matches in singles play. In doubles, Sipkova and Rey have tallied 23 victories after earning ITA All-America status last year. The tandem of Czakon and Sarinana has won 13-straight matches while playing primarily at the second position. Shaw and junior Jessee Burrell (Perth, Australia/Presbyterian Ladies' College) have won each of their last six matches together at the third position.
Vulcans in the NCAA Tournament: Cal U has a 19-6 record in the NCAA Tournament since 2008 and has advanced to the quarterfinals in seven of the last eight years, including six straight.
Scouting the Lions: Saint Leo has compiled a 21-5 record this season, winning seven of its last eight matches with the only loss coming in the SCC Championship. The Lions feature the ITA South Region Rookie of the Year in Wagner, who is ranked No. 48 in the most recent ITA national rankings. She has posted an 8-6 record while playing at four different positions in the lineup. Senior Laura Kemkes, a two-time All-SCC First-Team selection, leads the team with a 20-2 record while splitting time at second and third singles. Junior Maria Benkirane ranks second on team with 18 victories behind an impressive 17-match winning streak. In doubles, Wagner and Montoya are ranked No. 24 nationally despite playing only 10 matches – all at the first position – as a tandem. Kemkes and sophomore Pauline Helgesson lead the team with 16 wins as a doubles team behind a 14-match winning streak, including a 9-0 mark at the first slot.
Lions in the Playoffs: Saint Leo has advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament for the first in program history while playing in the toughest region in the country. The Lions have played a staggering 13 matches against nationally-ranked opponents this season.
Last Meeting: The Vulcans will meet the Lions for the first time in program history.
Head Coaches: Pablo Montana is in his 12th season as head coach at Cal U. The 2007 and 2010 Wilson/ITA National Coach of the Year, he has posted a combined dual record of 243-74 overall and a 78-15 mark in PSAC play to become the winningest coach in program history. This spring, he was named the PSAC Coach of the Year for the third time in the last four seasons and eighth time in his career. The Vulcans have earned a berth to the NCAA Tournament in 11 of the last 12 seasons, including quarterfinal appearances in seven of the last eight years.
Sarah Summerfield has served as acting head coach at Saint Leo since October 2013 after spending just three months with the program as a graduate assistant. She finished her college career as the all-time winningest singles player at Wyoming.
Looking Ahead: The advancing team will face the winner of the Armstrong Atlantic-NYIT match in the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, May 16 at 9 a.m.
